Chris Froome's final preparations for the Rio Olympics were hampered when his last competitive race before the Games was halted a quarter of the way through.

The three-time Tour de France winner sat in a Surrey field for 20 minutes while the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic was called to a stop due to a bottleneck in Dorking and congestion at Leith Hill, further along the course, full of straggling amateurs which had caused cyclists to back up.

Froome, sat on his bike, even posed for pictures with some surprised spectators, 28 miles into the 125-mile course.

Chris Froome took part in the RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday

The race was stopped a quarter of the way through due to congestion

Froome (centre) posed for pictures with fans during the break in racing

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‘It did disrupt the race a little bit,’ he said afterwards. ‘We were in a good rhythm there chasing and had to stop. We completely understand why, there was a big accident in front, the roads were shut. We didn’t really want another Ventoux situation, I think it was a right call from the organisers to neutralise the race. It’s certainly the first time I’ve been posing for pictures mid-race.’

The problem was part-caused by two horrific crashes in the amateur race which started earlier in the day. Two riders had to be airlifted to hospital.

A RideLondon spokesman said: ‘The RideLondon-Surrey Classic was paused on the advice of police on the grounds of public safety due to congestion in Dorking High Street of riders in the RideLondon-Surrey 100. This was caused by the combination of the earlier delay from the earlier stop when a rider required an air ambulance and other riders who were diverted.’

During the pause, Froome and other elite cyclists were left sat in a field

CHRIS FROOME'S POST-TOUR SCHEDULE

July 24: Won the Tour de France in Paris

July 25: Competed in Belgium

July 31: Took part in RideLondon

August 1: Flies to Rio

August 6: Olympic road race

August 10: Olympic time trial

Froome and the rest of the peloton snaking into the distance were forced to wait right in front of a temporary no-stopping traffic sign until it was clear to ride on. Ironic, as the 31-year-old has not stopped since crossing the line at the Champs-Elysees to win the Tour seven days ago.

He was competing in Belgium 24 hours later and racing on home soil for the first time in two years on Sunday.

He flies out to Rio on Monday, preparing to lay whatever he has left on the line in an attempt to become only the second man after Sir Bradley Wiggins to win the Tour and Olympic gold in the same year.

The race was Froome's last competitive action before his flight to the Rio Olympics

The cycling star is competing in both the road race and the time trial events

The road race is considered something of a lottery, but he is one of the favourites for the time trial and has identified that as a more realistic chance of achieving the feat.

‘In the Tour you’re thinking very much about riding each stage in the most conservative way as possible and staying at the front, trying not to lose time,’ he said.

‘For a one-day race like Rio it’s about putting it all on the line on the day, it’s a bit more of a gamble. You don’t have tomorrow to back it up if thing don’t go well today. It’s a very different challenge. Its been pretty chaotic since last weekend. I’ve had few days at home, a fews days on the road.’

Froome will have to contend with a different time zone but insists heat won't be a problem

Wiggins gave Froome his stamp of approval last week and believes no-one is in better shape to win gold in Rio.

He did, however, point out that while he finished the Tour and competed in London, Froome will have to contend with the disorientation of an entirely different continent over in South America.

Wiggins also did not have to sit around in a field only six days before competing.

Froome could match Bradley Wiggins by winning the Tour and Olympic gold in the same year

In Brazil they are four hours behind, the temperature is expected to hit 28 degrees on Saturday when he will take part in the road race and he will follow that with the time trial on Wednesday.

‘We’re going to have a few days to acclimatise and get ready before the race,’ Froome said.

‘Temperature-wise hopefully it shouldn’t be too different to here. It’s hot and we had a hot Tour de France, so I’ve got used to the heat already. It’s about getting used to the time zone, but four hours difference is not massive. I’ll have to see really.’